Table of Contents
FROM THE PAGES OF LES MISÉRABLES
Title Page
Copyright Page
VICTOR HUGO
THE WORLD OF VICTOR HUGO AND LES MISÉRABLES
Introduction
Acknowledgements
A NOTE ON THE ABRIDGMENT
PREFACE
FANTINE - BOOK ONE AN UPRIGHT MAN
Chapter 1 - M. MYRIEL
Chapter 2 - M. MYRIEL BECOMES MONSEIGNEUR BIENVENU
Chapter 3 - A DIFFICULT DIOCESE FOR A GOOD BISHOP
Chapter 4 - GOOD WORKS THAT MATCH THE WORDS
5 (7) - CRAVATTE
6 (10) - THE BISHOP IN THE PRESENCE OF AN UNKNOWN LIGHT
BOOK TWO - THE FALL
Chapter 1 - THE EVENING AFTER A LONG DAY’S WALK
Chapter 2 - PRUDENCE COMMENDED TO WISDOM
Chapter 3 - THE HEROISM OF PASSIVE OBEDIENCE
4 (5) - TRANQUILLITY
5 (6) - JEAN VALJEAN
6 (7) - THE DEPTHS OF DESPAIR
7 (9) - GRIEVANCES
8 (10) - THE MAN AWAKES
9 (11) - WHAT HE DOES
10 (12) - THE BISHOP AT WORK
11 (13) - PETIT GERVAIS
BOOK THREE - IN THE YEAR 1817
Chapter 1 - THE YEAR 1817
Chapter 2 - DOUBLE FOURSOME
Chapter 3 - FOUR TO FOUR
Chapter 4 - THOLOMYÈS IS SO MERRY THAT HE SINGS A SPANISH SONG
Chapter 5 - AT BOMBARDA’S
Chapter 6 - A CHAPTER OF SELF-ADMIRATION
Chapter 7 - THE WISDOM OF THOLOMYES
8 (9) - JOYOUS END OF JOY
BOOK FOUR - TO ENTRUST IS SOMETIMES TO ABANDON
Chapter 1 - ONE MOTHER MEETS ANOTHER
Chapter 2 - FIRST SKETCH OF TWO SUSPICIOUS-LOOKING FACES
Chapter 3 - THE LARK
BOOK FIVE - THE DESCENT
Chapter 1 - THE STORY OF AN IMPROVEMENT IN JET-WORK
Chapter 2 - MADELEINE
Chapter 3 - MONEYS DEPOSITED WITH LAFFITTE
Chapter 4 - MONSIEUR MADELEINE IN MOURNING
Chapter 5 - FAINT LIGHTNING FLASHES ON THE HORIZON
Chapter 6 - OLD FAUCHELEVENT
Chapter 7 - FAUCHELEVENT BECOMES A GARDENER AT PARIS
Chapter 8 - MADAME VICTURNIEN SPENDS THIRTY FRANCS ON MORALITY
Chapter 9 - SUCCESS OF MADAME VICTURNIEN
Chapter 10 - FURTHER SUCCESS OF THE GOSSIPS
11 (12) - THE IDLENESS OF MONSIEUR BAMATABOIS
12 (13) - THE SOLUTION TO SOME MUNICIPAL POLICE ISSUES
BOOK SIX - JAVERT
Chapter 1 - THE BEGINNING OF REPOSE
Chapter 2 - HOW JEAN CAN BECOME CHAMP
BOOK SEVEN - THE CHAMPMATHIEU CASE
Chapter 1 - SISTER SIMPLICE
Chapter 2 - THE SHREWDNESS OF MASTER SCAUFFLAIRE
3 (4) - FORMS ASSUMED BY SUFFERING DURING SLEEP
4 (5) - OBSTACLES
5 (6) - SISTER SIMPLICE PUT TO THE TEST
6 (7) - THE TRAVELLER ARRIVES AND PROVIDES FOR HIS RETURN
7 (8) - ADMISSION BY FAVOUR
8 (9) - A PLACE FOR ARRIVING AT CONVICTIONS
9 (10) - THE ACCUSED
10 (11) - CHAMPMATHIEU MORE AND MORE ASTONISHED
BOOK EIGHT - COUNTER-STROKE
Chapter 1 - IN WHAT MIRROR M. MADELEINE LOOKS AT HIS HAIR
Chapter 2 - FANTINE HAPPY
Chapter 3 - JAVERT SATISFIED
Chapter 4 - AUTHORITY RESUMES ITS SWAY
Chapter 5 - A FITTING TOMB
COSETTE - BOOK ONE WATERLOO
Chapter 1 - WHAT YOU MEET IN COMING FROM NIVELLES
2 (19) - THE FIELD OF BATTLE AT NIGHT
BOOK Two - THE CONVICT SHIP ORION
Chapter 1 - NUMBER 24601 BECOMES NUMBER 9430
2 (3) - SHOWING THAT THE CHAIN OF THE SHACKLE MUST NEEDS HAVE UNDERGONE A ...
BOOK THREE - KEEPING THE PROMISE TO THE DEAD WOMAN
Chapter 1 - THE WATER PROBLEM AT MONTFERMEIL
Chapter 2 - TWO PORTRAITS COMPLETED
Chapter 3 - MEN MUST HAVE WINE AND HORSES WATER
Chapter 4 - A DOLL COMES ONSTAGE
Chapter 5 - THE LITTLE GIRL ALL ALONE
Chapter 6 - WHICH PERHAPS PROVES THE INTELLIGENCE OF BOULATRUELLE
Chapter 7 - COSETTE SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE UNKNOWN, IN THE DARKNESS
Chapter 8 - INCONVENIENCE OF ENTERTAINING A POOR MAN WHO IS PERHAPS RICH
Chapter 9 - THENARDIER MANŒUVRING
Chapter 10 - WHO SEEKS THE BEST MAY FIND THE WORST
Chapter 11 - NUMBER 9430 COMES UP AGAIN, AND COSETTE DRAWS IT
BOOK FOUR - THE OLD GORBEAU HOUSE
Chapter 1 - MASTER GORBEAU
Chapter 2 - A NEST FOR OWL AND WREN
Chapter 3 - TWO MISFORTUNES MINGLED MAKE HAPPINESS
Chapter 4 - WHAT THE LANDLADY DISCOVERED
Chapter 5 - A FIVE-FRANC COIN FALLING ON THE FLOOR MAKES A NOISE
BOOK FIVE - A SINISTER HUNT REQUIRES A SILENT PACK
Chapter 1 - STRATEGIC ZIGZAGS
Chapter 2 - IT IS FORTUNATE THAT VEHICLES CAN CROSS THE BRIDGE OF AUSTERLITZ
Chapter 3 - SEE THE MAP OF PARIS IN 1727
Chapter 4 - GROPING FOR ESCAPE
Chapter 5 - WHICH WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE WERE THE STREETS LIGHTED WITH GAS
Chapter 6 - A MYSTERY BEGINS
Chapter 7 - THE MYSTERY CONTINUED
Chapter 8 - THE MYSTERY REDOUBLES
Chapter 9 - THE MAN WITH THE BELL
Chapter 10 - IN WHICH IS EXPLAINED HOW JAVERT LOST HIS PREY
BOOK EIGHT - CEMETERIES TAKE WHAT IS GIVEN THEM
Chapter 1 - WHICH TELLS HOW TO ENTER THE CONVENT
Chapter 2 - FAUCHELEVENT FACING THE DIFFICULTY
Chapter 3 - MOTHER INNOCENT
Chapter 4 - IN WHICH JEAN VALJEAN HAS QUITE THE APPEARANCE OF HAVING READ ...
Chapter 5 - IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO BE A DRUNKARD TO BE IMMORTAL
Chapter 6 - DEAD AND BURIED
Chapter 7 - THE MISSING CARD
Chapter 8 - SUCCESSFUL EXAMINATION
Chapter 9 - THE CLOSE
MARIUS - BOOK ONE PARIS STUDIED THROUGH ITS MICROCOSM
Chapter 1 - PARVULUS
Chapter 2 - SOME OF HIS PRIVATE MARKS
Chapter 3 - HE IS AGREEABLE
Chapter 4 - HE MAY BE USEFUL
5 (13) - LITTLE GAVROCHE
BOOK THREE - THE GRANDFATHER AND THE GRANDSON
1 (2) - ONE OF THE RED SPECTRES OF THAT TIME
2 (3) - REQUIESCANT
3 (4) - END OF THE BRIGAND
4 (5) - THE USEFULNESS OF GOING TO MASS TO BECOME A REVOLUTIONARY
5 (6) - WHAT IT IS TO HAVE MET A CHURCHWARDEN
BOOK FOUR - THE FRIENDS OF THEABC
Chapter 1 - A GROUP WHICH ALMOST BECAME HISTORIC
Chapter 2 - FUNERAL ORATION UPON BLONDEAU, BY BOSSUET
Chapter 3 - THE ASTONISHMENTS OF MARIUS
Chapter 4 - THE BACK ROOM OF THE CAFÉ MUSAIN
Chapter 5 - ENLARGEMENT OF THE HORIZON
Chapter 6 - ANGUISH
BOOK FIVE - THE EXCELLENCE OF MISFORTUNE
Chapter 1 - MARIUS INDIGENT
Chapter 2 - MARIUS POOR
Chapter 3 - MARIUS GROWN
BOOK SIX - THE CONJUNCTION OF TWO STARS
Chapter 1 - THE NICKNAME: MODE OF FORMATION OF FAMILY NAMES
Chapter 2 - A LIGHT DAWNS
Chapter 3 - AN EFFECT OF SPRING
Chapter 4 - COMMENCEMENT OF A SERIOUS ILLNESS
Chapter 5 - SUNDRY THUNDERBOLTS FALL UPON MA‘AM BOUGON
Chapter 6 - TAKEN PRISONER
Chapter 7 - ADVENTURES OF THE LETTER U ABANDONED TO CONJECTURE
Chapter 8 - EVEN DISABLED VETERANS MAY BE LUCKY
Chapter 9 - AN ECLIPSE
BOOK SEVEN - PATRON-MINETTE
Chapter 1 - THE MINES AND THE MINERS
Chapter 2 - THE LOWEST DEPTH
Chapter 3 - BABET, GUEULEMER, CLAQUESOUS, AND MONTPARNASSE
Chapter 4 - COMPOSITION OF THE BAND
BOOK EIGHT - THE CRIMINAL POOR
1 (2) - A FIND
2 (3) - THE MAN WITH FOUR FACES
3 (4) - A ROSE IN DIRE POVERTY
4 (5) - THE PROVIDENTIAL SPYHOLE
5 (6) - THE WILD MAN IN HIS LAIR
6 (7) - STRATEGY AND TACTICS
7 (8) - THE SUNBEAM IN THE HOLE
8 (9) - JONDRETTE WEEPS ALMOST
9 (10) - PRICE OF CABS: TWO FRANCS AN HOUR
10 (11) - OFFERS OF SERVICE BY POVERTY TO GRIEF
11 (12) - THE USE OF M. LEBLANC’S FIVE-FRANC COIN
12 (13) - SOLUS CUM SOLO, IN LOCO REMOTO, NON COGITABANTUR ORARE PATER NOSTER
13 (14) - IN WHICH A POLICE OFFICER GIVES A LAWYER TWO COUPS DE POIGN
14 (15) - JONDRETTE MAKES HIS PURCHASE
15 (16) - IN WHICH WILL BE FOUND THE SONG SET TO AN ENGLISH AIR IN FASHION IN 1832
16 (17) - USE OF MARIUS’ FIVE-FRANC COIN
17 (18) - MARIUS’ TWO CHAIRS FACE EACH OTHER
18 (19) - THE DISTRACTIONS OF DARK CORNERS
19 (20) - THE AMBUSH
20 (21) - THE VICTIMS SHOULD ALWAYS BE ARRESTED FIRST
THE EPIC ON THE RUE SAINT-DENIS AND THE IDYLL OF THE RUE PLUMET - BOOK ONE A ...
Chapter 1 - WELL CUT
Chapter 2 - BADLY SEWED TOGETHER
3 (4) - CRACKS UNDER THE FOUNDATION
BOOK Two - EPONINE
1(2) - EMBRYONIC FORMATION OF CRIMES IN THE INCUBATION OF PRISONS
2 (4) - AN APPARITION TO MARIUS
BOOK THREE - THE HOUSE IN THE RUE PLUMET
v - THE SECRET HOUSE
2 (5) - THE ROSE DISCOVERS THAT SHE IS AN ENGINE OF WAR
3 (6) - THE BATTLE COMMENCES
4 (7) - FOR SADNESS, SADNESS REDOUBLED
BOOK FOUR - AID FROM BELOW MAY BE AID FROM ABOVE
Chapter 1 - WOUND WITHOUT, CURE WITHIN
BOOK FIVE - THE END OF WHICH IS UNLIKE THE BEGINNING
1(2) - FEARS OF COSETTE
2 (3) - ENRICHED BY THE COMMENTARIES OF TOUSSAINT
3 (4) - A HEART UNDER A STONE
4 (5) - COSETTE AFTER THE LETTER
5 (6) - THE OLD ARE MADE TO GO OUT WHEN CONVENIENT
BOOK SIX - LITTLE GAVROCHE
Chapter 1 - A MALEVOLENT TRICK OF THE WIND
Chapter 2 - IN WHICH LITTLE GAVROCHE TAKES ADVANTAGE OF NAPOLEON THE GREAT
Chapter 3 - THE FORTUNES AND MISFORTUNES OF ESCAPE
BOOK EIGHT - ENCHANTMENT AND DESPAIR
Chapter 1 - SUNSHINE
Chapter 2 - THE STUPEFACTION OF COMPLETE HAPPINESS
Chapter 3 - THE SHADOW GROWS
Chapter 4 - CAB ROLLS IN ENGLISH AND YELPS IN ARGOT
5 (6) - MARIUS BECOMES SO REAL AS TO GIVE COSETTE HIS ADDRESS
6 (7) - THE OLD HEART AND YOUNG HEART IN PRESENCE
BOOK NINE - WHERE ARE THEY GOING?
Chapter 1 - JEAN VALJEAN
Chapter 2 - MARIUS
BOOK ELEVEN - THE ATOM FRATERNISES WITH THE HURRICANE
1 (6) - RECRUITS
BOOK TWELVE - CORINTH
Chapter 1 - HISTORY OF CORINTH FROM ITS FOUNDATION
2 (3) - NIGHT BEGINS TO GATHER OVER GRANTAIRE
3 (4) - ATTEMPT TO CONSOLE THE WIDOW HUCHELOUP
4 (5) - THE PREPARATIONS
5 (7) - THE MAN RECRUITED IN THE RUE DES BILLETTES
BOOK THIRTEEN - MARIUS ENTERS THE SHADOW
Chapter 1 - FROM THE RUE PLUMET TO THE QUARTIER SAINT-DENIS
2 (3) - THE EXTREME LIMIT
BOOK FOURTEEN - THE GRANDEUR OF DESPAIR
Chapter 1 - THE FLAG: FIRST ACT
2 (4) - THE KEG OF POWDER
3 (5) - END OF JEAN PROUVAIRE’S RHYME
4 (6) - THE AGONY OF DEATH AFTER THE AGONY OF LIFE
5 (7) - GAVROCHE A PROFOUND CALCULATOR OF DISTANCES
BOOK FIFTEEN - THE RUE DE L’HOMME ARMÉ
Chapter 1 - BLOTTER,BLABBER
Chapter 2 - THE GAMIN AN ENEMY OF LIGHT
Chapter 3 - WHILE COSSETE AND TOUSSAINT SLEEP
JEAN VALJEAN - BOOK ONE WAR BETWEEN FOUR WALLS
1(2) - WHAT CAN BE DONE IN THE ABYSS BUT TO TALK
2 (3) - LIGHT DAWNS AND DARKENS
3 (4) - FIVE LESS, ONE MORE
4 (5) - WHAT HORIZON IS VISIBLE FROM THE TOP OF THE BARRICADE
5 (6) - MARIUS HAGGARD, JAVERT LACONIC
6 (7) - THE SITUATION GROWS SERIOUS
7 (8) - THE GUNNERS PRODUCE A SERIOUS IMPRESSION
8 (9) - USE OF THAT OLD POACHER’S SKILL, AND THAT INFALLIBLE AIM WHICH ...
9 (10) - DAWN
10 (11 ) - THE SHOT WHICH MISSES NOTHING AND KILLS NOBODY
11 (13) - PASSING GLEAMS
12 (14) - IN WHICH WILL BE FOUND THE NAME OF ENJOLRAS’ MISTRESS
13 (15) - GAVROCHE OUTSIDE
14 (16) - HOW BROTHER BECOMES FATHER
15 (17) - MORTUUS PATER FILIUM MORITURUM EXPECTAT
16 (19) - JEAN VALJEAN TAKES HIS REVENGE
17 (20) - THE DEAD ARE RIGHT AND THE LIVING ARE NOT WRONG
18 (21) - THE HEROES
19 (22) - FOOT TO FOOT
20 (23) - ORESTES FASTING AND PYLADES DRUNK
21 (24) - PRISONER
BOOK THREE - MIRE, BUT SOUL
Chapter 1 - THE CLOACA AND ITS SURPRISES
Chapter 2 - EXPLANATION
Chapter 3 - THE MAN TAILED
Chapter 4 - HE ALSO BEARS HIS CROSS
Chapter 5 - FOR SAND AS WELL AS WOMAN THERE IS A FINESSE WHICH IS PERFIDY
Chapter 6 - THE FONTIS
Chapter 7 - EXTREMITIES
Chapter 8 - THE TORN COAT-TAIL
Chapter 9 - MARIUS SEEMS TO BE DEAD TO ONE WHO IS A GOOD JUDGE
Chapter 10 - RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL SON—OF HIS LIFE
Chapter 11 - COMMOTION IN THE ABSOLUTE
Chapter 12 - THE ANCESTOR
BOOK FOUR - JAVERT DERAILED
Chapter 1 - JAVERT DERAILED
BOOK FIVE - THE GRANDSON AND THE GRANDFATHER
1 (2) - MARIUS, ESCAPING FROM CIVIL WAR, PREPARES FOR DOMESTIC WAR
2 (3) - MARIUS ATTACKS
3 (4) - MADEMOISELLE GILLENORMAND AT LAST THINKS IT NOT IMPROPER THAT MONSIEUR ...
4 (5) - DEPOSIT YOUR MONEY RATHER IN SOME FOREST THAN WITH SOME LAWYER
5 (6) - THE TWO OLD MEN DO EVERYTHING, EACH IN HIS OWN WAY, THAT COSETTE MAY BE HAPPY
6 (7) - THE EFFECTS OF DREAM MINGLED WITH HAPPINESS
7 (8) - TWO MEN IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND
BOOK SIX - THE SLEEPLESS NIGHT
1 (2) - JEAN VALJEAN STILL HAS HIS ARM IN A SLING
2 (3) - THE INSEPARABLE
3 (4) - UNDYING FAITH
BOOK SEVEN - THE LAST DROP IN THE CHALICE
Chapter 1 - THE SEVENTH CIRCLE AND THE EIGHTH HEAVEN
Chapter 2 - THE OBSCURITIES WHICH A REVELATION MAY CONTAIN
BOOK EIGHT - THE FINAL TWILIGHT
Chapter 1 - THE BASEMENT ROOM
Chapter 2 - OTHER STEPS BACKWARD
Chapter 3 - THEY REMEMBER THE GARDEN IN THE RUE PLUMET
Chapter 4 - ATTRACTION AND EXTINCTION
BOOK NINE - THE LAST NIGHT YIELDS TO THE LAST DAWN
Chapter 1 - PITY FOR THE UNHAPPY, BUT INDULGENCE FOR THE HAPPY
Chapter 2 - THE LAST FLICKERINGS OF THE EXHAUSTED LAMP
Chapter 3 - A PEN IS HEAVY TO HIM WHO LIFTED FAUCHELEVENT’S CART
Chapter 4 - A BOTTLE OF INK WHICH SERVES ONLY TO WHITEN
Chapter 5 - NIGHT BEHIND WHICH IS DAWN
ENDNOTES
&n
bsp; INSPIRED BY LES MISÉRABLES
COMMENTS & QUESTIONS
FOR FURTHER READING
FROM THE PAGES OF LES MISÉRABLES
What is said about men often has as much influence upon their lives, and especially upon their destinies, as what they do. (page 11)
Great grief is a divine and terrible radiance which transfigures the wretched. (page 122)
“In the winter, it is so cold that you thresh your arms to warm them; but the bosses won’t allow that; they say it is a waste of time. It is tough work to handle iron when there is ice on the pavements. It wears a man out quick. You get old when you are young at this trade. A man is used up by forty. I was fifty-three.” (page 175)
No one ever keeps a secret so well as a child. (page 329)
The jostlings of young minds against each other have this wonderful attribute, that one can never foresee the spark, nor predict the flash. What may spring up in a moment? Nobody knows. (page 379)
All the problems which the socialists propounded, aside from the cos mogonic visions, dreams, and mysticism, may be reduced to two principal problems. First problem: To produce wealth. Second problem: To distribute it. (page 505)
Social prosperity means, man happy, the citizen free, the nation great.
(page 505)
He did not even know at night what he had done in the morning, nor where he had breakfasted, nor who had spoken to him; he had songs in his ear which rendered him deaf to every other thought; he existed only during the hours in which he saw Cosette. Then, as he was in Heaven, it was quite natural that he should forget the earth. (page 581)